.A series of at least three winter storms will affect the southernSierra nevada...Beginning thursday and continuing through theWeekend. The first storm will impact yosemite national park withAccumulating snow and gusty winds thursday afternoon throughFriday. The second and third storms will affect the southernSierra nevada as far south as sequoia national park with periodsOf heavy snow and strong winds.

The national weather service in hanford has issued a winterWeather advisory above 8000 feet for snow and strong winds...WhichIs in effect from noon thursday to 6 pm pst friday for theSouthern sierra nevada for yosemite national park. A winter stormWatch above 5000 feet has also been issued. This winter stormWatch above 5000 feet for heavy snow and strong winds is inEffect from friday evening through sunday afternoon for theSouthern sierra nevada from yosemite to kings canyon.

* snow accumulations: the first storm will bring accumulations of4 to 8 inches to the high country of yosemite national park. TheSecond and third storms could bring total accumulations of 12 to18 inches.

* elevation: the snow level will be around 8000 feetInitially...But will lower to 4000 to 5000 feet by saturdayNight.

* timing: the first storm will reach yosemite thursdayAfternoon...With the heaviest snowfall thursday night intoFriday morning. The second storm will move into the southernSierra nevada friday night into saturday morning. There may be aBreak in the precipitation before the third storm arrivesSaturday night and continues into sunday.

* locations include: initially...Tuolumne meadows and tioga pass.The second and third storms also will impact shaver lake andHuntington lake.

* winds: winds will gust in excess of 50 mph at times.

* impacts: tioga pass may be affected by snow and winds beginningLate thursday. Travel into the southern sierra nevada will beAffected by accumulating and blowing snow as well as strongWinds. People planning travel into the southern sierra nevadaShould monitor the weather forecasts and heed park...Forest andPublic safety officials. Carry chains and be prepared for delaysAnd road closures.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A winter weather advisory means that periods of snow will causeTravel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limitedVisibilities...And use caution while driving.

A winter storm watch means there is a potential for significantSnow and strong winds that may impact travel. Continue to monitorThe latest forecasts.

.A series of at least three winter storms will affect the southernSierra nevada...Beginning thursday and continuing through theWeekend. The first storm will impact yosemite national park withAccumulating snow and gusty winds thursday afternoon throughFriday. The second and third storms will affect the southernSierra nevada as far south as sequoia national park with periodsOf heavy snow and strong winds.

The national weather service in hanford has issued a winterWeather advisory above 8000 feet for snow and strong winds...WhichIs in effect from noon thursday to 6 pm pst friday for theSouthern sierra nevada for yosemite national park. A winter stormWatch above 5000 feet has also been issued. This winter stormWatch above 5000 feet for heavy snow and strong winds is inEffect from friday evening through sunday afternoon for theSouthern sierra nevada from yosemite to kings canyon.

* snow accumulations: the first storm will bring accumulations of4 to 8 inches to the high country of yosemite national park. TheSecond and third storms could bring total accumulations of 12 to18 inches.

* elevation: the snow level will be around 8000 feetInitially...But will lower to 4000 to 5000 feet by saturdayNight.

* timing: the first storm will reach yosemite thursdayAfternoon...With the heaviest snowfall thursday night intoFriday morning. The second storm will move into the southernSierra nevada friday night into saturday morning. There may be aBreak in the precipitation before the third storm arrivesSaturday night and continues into sunday.

* locations include: initially...Tuolumne meadows and tioga pass.The second and third storms also will impact shaver lake andHuntington lake.

* winds: winds will gust in excess of 50 mph at times.

* impacts: tioga pass may be affected by snow and winds beginningLate thursday. Travel into the southern sierra nevada will beAffected by accumulating and blowing snow as well as strongWinds. People planning travel into the southern sierra nevadaShould monitor the weather forecasts and heed park...Forest andPublic safety officials. Carry chains and be prepared for delaysAnd road closures.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A winter weather advisory means that periods of snow will causeTravel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limitedVisibilities...And use caution while driving.

A winter storm watch means there is a potential for significantSnow and strong winds that may impact travel. Continue to monitorThe latest forecasts.

Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park to Close this Evening, January 17, 2012

The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will close at 7:00 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, January 17, 2012. A series of wet weather systems, with the possibility of heavy snow at the higher elevations, are predicated over the next several days. This possible precipitation, coupled with cold temperatures, will result in hazardous driving conditions on the road.

The Glacier Point Road will remain open through at least this evening. The park will assess the road and weather conditions tomorrow, and there is a possibility the road may close due to hazardous driving conditions.

If conditions change that precipitate the reopening of the Tioga Road, the park will issue a subsequent news release.

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If conditions change that precipitate the reopening of the Tioga Road, the park will issue a subsequent news release.

I would hope that the subsequent news release is sometime in June. And btw it was snowing yesterday morning at Yosemite Point. Proof:OK, its not much, but at this point, I will take what I can get. It was from the fog in the valley rising up and then falling as "snow". Looking forward to seeing more pictures soon with a bit more of the white stuff!

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If conditions change that precipitate the reopening of the Tioga Road, the park will issue a subsequent news release.

I would hope that the subsequent news release is sometime in June. And btw it was snowing yesterday morning at Yosemite Point. Proof:OK, its not much, but at this point, I will take what I can get. It was from the fog in the valley rising up and then falling as "snow". Looking forward to seeing more pictures soon with a bit more of the white stuff!

.A series of at least two winter storms will affect the southernSierra nevada...Beginning tonight and continuing through theWeekend. The first storm will impact yosemite national park withSome accumulating snow and gusty winds early this evening throughEarly friday morning. The second and more powerful system willMove into the southern sierra late friday night and will continueOn saturday. Snowfall will be significantly higher with thisSystem. The system will affect the southern sierra nevada as farSouth as sequoia national park with periods of heavy snow andStrong winds.

The national weather service in hanford has issued a winter stormWarning above 5000 feet for heavy snow and strong winds...WhichIs in effect from noon friday to 4 am pst sunday for the southernSierra nevada from yosemite to kings canyon. The winter stormWatch is no longer in effect for the southern sierra nevada fromYosemite to kings canyon. A winter weather advisory above 8000Feet remains in effect from 4 pm this afternoon to noon pst fridayFor the southern sierra nevada from yosemite to kings canyon.

* snow accumulations: snow fall of around 2 to 4 inches will fallOvernight...Mainly in the yosemite park area. Snow will onceAgain begin falling on friday night and continue throughSaturday with snow totals of up to 2 feet possible by saturdayEvening. Total snowfall in the southern sierra north of kingsCanyon will be 1 to 2 feet through saturday night.

* snow levels: the snow level will initially be at or above8000 feet until friday night...Gradually lowering throughThe day saturday...Then falling to near 5000 feet lateSaturday into sunday.

* timing: the first batch of moisture will reach yosemite parkTonight...Pushing south to kings canyon friday. The secondStorm system will move into the southern sierra friday nightAnd continue through saturday.

* locations include: yosemite national park...Shaver lake.

* winds: gusts in excess of 50 mph at times over highest ridgeTops and near the sierra crest will cause areas of blowingAnd drifting snow.

People planning travel into the southern sierra nevada shouldMonitor the latest weather forecasts. Heed directions from parkAnd forest service personnel...And other public safety officials.Carry chains and be prepared for road delays or closures.

A winter storm warning means significant amounts of snow areExpected or occurring. Strong winds are also possible. This willMake travel very hazardous or impossible.

A winter weather advisory means that periods of snow will causeTravel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limitedVisibilities...And use caution while driving.

A couple of winter storms will impact central california throughEarly next week.

A powerful pacific storm will move through central californiaThis evening and continue through saturday with heavy snowfallLikely over the southern sierra nevada.

Three quarters of an inch to one and a half inches of rainfallWill be possible over the mariposa...Madera and fresno countyFoothills.

In the san joaquin valley...The heaviest rain is expected in theCentral valley where one quarter to three quarters of an inch willBe possible. Breezy to windy conditions will develop behind theFront on saturday with strong wind gusts possible over the kernCounty mountains and deserts.

The next storm will reach central california sunday night andContinue into monday morning. This will be a cold storm...WithSnow levels falling to around 4500 feet in yosemite national parkAnd to around 5000 feet in the kern county mountains monday.Another foot of snow is possible with this storm with more valleyRain expected.

* oil has had a few months to accumulate on roadways andRainfall on these roads will cause slicker than usualConditions.

* gusty winds combined with periods of moderate rain may leadDowned tree branches and possibly local power outages.

* ponding of water on roadways will be possible in areas ofModerate to heavy rainfall.

* heavy snowfall over the mountains may lead to travel delays...Chain controls...Or possibly road closures.

* the major passes through the kern county mountains...Highway58 through the tehachapi pass and interstate 5 over theGrapevine...Will be below the snow line. The main weatherProblem for these passes will be gusty winds on saturday.Higher elevation roads...Including highway 178 through theWalker pass...Could see some accumulating snow monday.